Ditto Deanna Leigh.
Things to do & keep:
(1)your routine... ie: pre-nap and pre-bed. But allow some time for him to unwind before you actually put him down to nap. For me, it takes about 1/2 hour to unwind my kids, before they actually go down to nap. For me, I make everything dark, make everything quiet pre-nap/bed.
(2) try pushing his nap back to about 9:30....or 10:00. But try it in 1/2 hour increments first.
(3) give him a good feeding before hand.
Things to keep in mind:
1) at this age, and when they are developmentally changing or hitting milestones, sleep patterns DO change. It's a phase. It will go back to normalcy... but you need to be patient. ie: your son is now pulling-up to standing. THIS is something they do because it is a developmental instinct and 'new' ability...so it DOES throw a wrench into their 'ability' to fall asleep. Once they get used to their new 'talent' they will even out. He is NOT 'refusing' to lay down.... at this age, they DON'T KNOW how to put themselves back down into a perfect prone position to 'sleep' again, like an adult. So, you have to help him.... it's par for the course. Any new "ability' they have, requires you to help lay them down again, unless they can do it themselves. This can be repetitious and they will 'stand' up again and again. It's just their 'instinct' and how they 'learn.' Its normal. THEN... later he will know how to sit down, then lay down.
2) Whenever a 'new' motor-skill develops or a new cognitive ability or separation anxiety, or milestone occurs, this throws a hiccup into their sleep 'ability.' Sleep patterns are NOT static in babies nor children nor teens. It changes. All the time.
3) Rule out the typical, ie: teething, gas, hunger, poopy diaper. These can wake any baby.
A 'schedule' I've had for my son, who is now 2.5 years old:
7:00a.m.= he wakes
10:00= morning nap for 2 hours
3:00p.m.= afternoon nap for 2 hours
8:00-8:30= bedtime
In between that, is his meals and play/activity time.
My son, since I"ve had the same routine for him since a baby, is so used to it... and he is like 'auto-pilot' with naps/bedtime now. He does not protest about it. He will in fact even tell me if he is tired and wants to nap, and then will go about getting in his 'routine.' During any developmental changes or inability to nap... I just push his nap back a little. Or, if he cannot nap (which is rare), I just take him out of the crib. Then, he will nap at his next nap time. So, you also have to be flexible, but while keeping to a routine about it....
My daughter, who is 6 years old, has also napped in the afternoons at the same time as my son... because I have the SAME routine for BOTH of them. They know it, and they don't argue about it. Thank goodness. I think because it is such a 'normal' routine for them.. and I have done it with them all this time. But for my daughter now at her age, if she cannot nap or does not want to, I don't push it... and we just have "quiet" time.
No routine will be perfect everyday... but if you keep to it... and allow for temporary changes... it will still provide stability in your day and their naps. Which is important.
The main thing is, is to 'cue' into your baby... and try to put him to nap before they get over-tired. My son goes to nap at a certain 'time' because I "know" that that is when he gets tired.
You don't have to have baby cry it out... or cry to fall asleep. Just going in at short intervals to reassure him is fine... but if he ends up 'not' being able to nap.. .then take him out, and maybe 1/2 hour later try again to put him to nap. He's probably just changing.
All the best,
Susan